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AT&T cuts 4,600 jobs

updated 01:45 pm EDT, Fri April 18, 2008

ATT Cuts 4600 Jobs

Only a day after its landmark deployment of Surface computing, AT&T on Friday said in an SEC filing and public comments that it would cut 4,600 positions from its workforce. The cuts, which account for roughly 1.5 percent of the company's 309,000 employees, are characterized as necessary to "streamline" its business and that the effect should be minimal for end users. Most of the positions cut are managerial and in areas customers aren't likely to notice, the carrier says. Company spokesman Walt Sharp also says that it's continuing to hire in other areas.

The company additionally points out that most staff reductions affect declining or unsuccessful areas, such as land-based phone service.

AT&T is considered the single largest wireless provider in the US, with more than 70 million subscribers, but is understood to be affected like its competitors by a struggling US economy that makes it difficult for customers to maintain higher-priced Internet and phone services. [subscriptions updated]

 
Previous Comments

AT&T Fiddles, Rome Burns

04/18, 02:11pm reply

So, let me get this straight: AT&T just layed off 4,600 employees, and simultaneously just deployed $10k a pop Microsoft "Surface" playtoys at 25 locations.

Anybody else find these two news items mutually offensive?

macs4all

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Aug 2003

0

yeah

04/18, 02:26pm reply

I guess stupid "eye candy" is more important than people!

G4_Kessel

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jan 2003

0

Well

04/18, 04:16pm reply

One could argue the merits of deploying MS Surface devices at *maybe* a cost of 250,000 dollars. But that would be like not laying off 6 people instead, so I would say it really isn't as lousy as it sounds...

mgpalma

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Sep 2000

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